EP2226254A1 - Packaging machine and method for control of same - Google Patents

Abstract

The machine has a guiding system for supplying packing webs i.e. film webs (14), to a package, where the packing webs are arranged at a distance from each other. An impact device is provided for section-wise wrapping of goods and/or package units with the packing webs, where the package is conveyed to a packing station over a horizontally arranged conveyor belt (32). Rod or roller-like guiding elements guide the packing webs, where one of the guiding elements is designed as an ultrasonic air bearing (38) that is formed by a deflection element. An independent claim is also included for a method for packing of goods and/or package units.

Description

The invention relates to a packaging machine and a method for its control.

Such packaging machines are used, inter alia. for wrapping packaging goods with packaging webs. The packaged goods can be, for example, containers with a plurality of regularly arranged beverage containers, which are wrapped with a disposable film packaging, with which they are stacked on pallets in order to be better handled during storage and transport. The packaging film is applied by means of suitable packaging machines, with the aid of which the packaging to be wrapped in each case with a film section previously separated by a continuous web is taken. This impact is normally continuous, i. during ongoing transport of the container, wherein the cut to length film sections are usually supplied from an area below the transport level of the container, so that the container is pushed onto a portion of the film section, which later forms the bottom portion. The film sections are conveyed by means of a plurality of guiding and / or deflecting elements on the conveyor belt and to a wrapping element, which is movably above the container and during their transport strikes the foil sections around the container, so that they are largely completely enveloped.

Such a continuous device for packaging items at risk of tilting by means of a film wrapping is, for example, from the DE 42 07 725 C2 out.

Due to a performance-related dependency, the containers are transported in multiple lanes through the packaging machine. Thus, at least two containers are simultaneously at least partially wrapped by the packaging film at the same time in a wrapping process. For this purpose, it is necessary to separate the packaging film used in at least two tracks by means of a cutting and subsequent spreading device. The outgoing wide film web is thus separated into at least two halves and these halves are brought to a sufficient distance to parallel to each other without mutual interference to haul transported packages. Currently, the function of Folienspreizens is usually realized in that a divided into two sheets of film is pulled over angularly employed rigid spreader rollers. In order to minimize the friction of the film to the rigid rollers, they are provided in a portion of its circumference with holes from which air flows. This subregion corresponds at least to the wrap angle of the film. As a result, the pressurized air roller forms an air bearing for the film web.

Alternative variants may provide for dispensing with the airbed and merely guiding and pulling the film over a curved shaft. However, this variant has the disadvantage that the film charges statically and the spread can assume only a small Spreizmaß, so that a film spacing of typically only about 30 mm can be realized.

Devices for separating material webs into two partial webs using a film spreader with rollers for film guidance are, for example, from DE 37 33 129 A1 , from the DE 42 41 354 C1 as well as from the DE 101 05 486 A1 known.

A device and a method for longitudinal cutting of strip material into thin strips go, for example. From DE 695 16 233 T2 out. Here, the strip material is held and guided by means of compressed air-supplied air bearings.

In the further development and transport process, the film cut to a defined length is transported on a so-called vacuum belt in the direction of the film wrapping station. Due to the predetermined mechanism of two separate bands on the transport path from the film separation station to the vacuum belt and the conveyor belt and the film wrapping the film must be transported or pushed over an area in which no support of the film can be guaranteed. In order to bridge this area and to ensure that the film or the film beginning does not buckle due to gravity and thus causes a production disturbance, the film is stabilized with the aid of two blowpipes and transported by means of an air duct formed by the blowpipes in the desired position and orientation.

Basically, the systems described have the disadvantage that a compressed air system must be available. In addition, the compressed air stabilization requires and conveying the film sections a relatively high compressed air consumption, so that a relatively high energy input for the production of compressed air is required.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an easily manageable and reliably functioning guide option for tape and film material, which is operable with a reduced energy input compared to a compressed air-supplied air bearing.

These objects are achieved in a machine having the features of independent claim 1 in that at least one of a plurality of guide elements for the packaging and / or film webs used as packaging is designed as an ultrasound bearing unit. The present invention is thus based essentially on the use of ultrasonic air bearings as guiding, deflecting and / or bearing elements for the packaging webs to be conveyed, in particular for film sections. Using a high-frequency oscillating component, the air is compressed between the medium to be transported and the oscillator, thus achieving a certain load capacity. This load capacity is sufficient in practice to guide the very light packaging or film webs at a sufficient distance from the bearing or guide elements.

The present invention thus relates essentially to the guide, deflection and bearing elements for the packaging webs used. However, it relates in the same way to a machine for packaging goods and / or packaging units with a sheet-like packaging web such as a disposable film o. The like. This machine comprises a feed unit for the packaging webs and a wrapping unit for at least partially wrapping the goods or packaging units the packaging web. The packaging webs are guided over planar, web-like and / or roller-like guide elements and / or carried on these at least in sections. The invention is characterized in that at least one of the guide elements is formed as an ultrasonic storage unit. Optionally, the at least one ultrasound bearing unit may be formed by a deflecting element arranged substantially transversely to a conveying direction of the packaging web. Such a deflecting element is comparable to a deflection roller used in conventional machines, which may optionally have a compressed air supply to improve the film guide. In the machine according to the invention is on the Compressed air supply omitted because the ultrasonic bearing unit ensures the necessary distance of the guide element to the packaging web and thus for the desired reduction of the frictional resistances.

In one embodiment of the packaging machine according to the invention, the deflecting element can form a largely non-contact, line-like deflection and / or guidance for the packaging web. Optionally, two or more deflecting elements arranged at an angle to one another can form a spreader unit for the spaced guidance of two or more packaging webs previously conveyed in parallel and / or as a single packaging web.

Optionally, the ultrasonic bearing units are also suitable for forming at least one surface with a planar guide for the packaging web or the film web.

The at least one ultrasound bearing unit is preferably formed by an ultrasonic air bearing, the activation of which triggers a compression of the air between the packaging web and the surface of the ultrasound bearing unit. The vibrator, vibrator and vibration isolation system is available and can be dimensioned and configured as needed. The execution of the vibrator or the oscillating body is to be executed user-specific, for example. As a cylindrical roller or as a flat plate. The invention describes the use of the system in a packaging machine for handling the packaging films or webs in the functional areas of spreading the film and transporting the film.

As packaging webs, packaging films or other suitable packaging webs, for example of paper or of a suitable composite material, can be used, which are suitable for the purpose of wrapping and packaging of packaging goods such as e.g. Containers with beverage containers are suitable. If a conventional packaging film is used as the packaging material, it is normally shrunk around the packaging material after the packaged product has been impacted by the action of heat.

In addition to the packaging machine, the present invention also relates to a method for packaging goods and / or packaging units with a sheetlike packaging web such as a disposable film or the like, in which the Packaging webs of a wrapping unit for at least partially wrapping the goods or packaging units are supplied to the packaging web. The packaging webs are guided over planar, web-like and / or roller-like guide elements and / or carried on these at least in sections. These guide elements are formed as ultrasonic bearing units in the form of ultrasonic air bearings whose activation triggers a compression of the air between the packaging web and the surface of the ultrasonic bearing unit.

In summary, the invention is based on the use of ultrasonic air bearings in packaging machines or in methods for packaging packaging goods. Using a high-frequency oscillating component, the air is compressed between the medium to be transported and the oscillator, thus achieving a desired load-bearing capacity. In a first application, the air-assisted, angularly adjustable and fixed Spreizumlenkungen be replaced by an ultrasonic air bearing generating system. The highly compressed "air film" causes the film is pulled almost without contact on the spreader and is spread by their angular position.

In an alternative and possibly combinable with the first application, the second application case, the blowpipes, which generate an "air duct", replaced by a planar vibration system, which in turn allows by an "air film" a non-contact transporting the film.

The main advantage of the system is the massive reduction of energy consumption, as compressed air as a supporting medium can be dispensed with. Thus, the system is much more energy efficient than the previously known systems.

The tests carried out so far have shown that the ultrasonic air bearings used are suitable for the required application in transport technology. The system is ideally suited as an alternative solution to existing applications that use compressed air. Other applications in the field of film guidance are conceivable and useful.

• Fig. 1 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung mit wesentlichen Funktionselementen einer Verpackungsmaschine.
• Fig. 2 zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Folienumlenkung der Verpackungsmaschine gemäß Fig. 1.
• Fig. 3 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung einer Folienspreizung.
• Fig. 4 zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht einer flächigen Folienführung der Verpackungsmaschine gemäß Fig. 1.

Other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the appended claims Drawings reference. The same components in principle have the same reference numerals and will not be explained several times.

• Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation with essential functional elements of a packaging machine.
• Fig. 2 shows a schematic side view of a film deflection of the packaging machine according to Fig. 1 ,
• Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a film spread.
• Fig. 4 shows a schematic side view of a sheet-like film guide of the packaging machine according to Fig. 1 ,

The schematic representation of Fig. 1 shows the essential functional elements of a per se known packaging machine 10, which comprises a guide system 12 for supplying cut and / or longitudinally in two or more parallel and spaced guided divided film webs 14 to 16 containers. The containers 16 are conveyed on a horizontally arranged conveyor belt 18 to the packaging station 20, where they are wrapped and enveloped by means of a Einschlageinrichtung 22 with appropriately cut film webs 14, if necessary, then subjected to a shrinkage process (not shown) by means of heat. The film webs 14 are deducted in the embodiment shown before cutting in appropriately cut sections of a film drum 24, so that over a longer period of continuous feeding can be guaranteed. Before the film drum 24 is completely unrolled, another film drum 26 can be activated.

The marked detail areas II and IV are described below with reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 explained in more detail.

The schematic side view of Fig. 2 shows in detail the film deflection of the section II of the packaging machine 10 from Fig. 1 , The film web 14 is deflected several times by means of inventive ultrasonic air bearing 28 and can be brought by introducing a suitable central incision by means of two juxtaposed and employed at a shallow angle x ultrasonic air bearing 28 at a desired distance from each other. The schematic representation of Fig. 3 illustrates this so-called film spreading.

The schematic side view of Fig. 4 Finally, shows a flat film guide of the section IV of the packaging machine 10 Fig. 1 , The web 14 to be conveyed to the wrapping device 22 of the packaging station 20 is conveyed by means of a conveyor belt 30 of the separating station in an oblique direction up to the level of the front conveyor belt 32 for the container 16. Since the conveyor belt 30 of the separation station in front of the chain 34 of the Einschlageinrichtung 22 must end and is deflected downward, remains between the front conveyor belt 32 and the lower conveyor belt 30 of the separation station a gap within which the film web 14 should be performed to a folding or to reliably prevent any other malfunction. As with the Fig. 4 illustrates, are below the transfer plate 36, which the rear conveyor belt 18 with the same height level front conveyor belt 32, separated by the passage for the chain 34 and the feed gap for the film web 14, two flat ultrasonic air bearings 38, which are arranged parallel to each other are so that they form a guide gap 40 in which the film web 14 can be reliably guided and brought to the level of the front conveyor belt 32.

The invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Rather, a variety of variants and modifications are conceivable that make use of the inventive concept and therefore also fall within the scope.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

packaging machine

12

guidance system

14

sheet

16

container

18

rear conveyor belt

20

packing station

22

wrapping device

24

film drum

26

further film drum

28

Ultrasound air bearing

30

Conveyor belt (separation station)

32

front conveyor belt (wrapping device)

34

Chain

36

Crossover plate

38

flat ultrasonic air bearings

40

guide gap

X

shallow angle

Claims (8)

Machine (10) for packaging goods and / or packaging units with a sheet-like packaging web such as a disposable film (14) o. The like., Comprising a feed unit (12) for the packaging webs and a wrapping unit (22) for at least partially wrapping the goods or Packaging units with the packaging web, wherein the packaging webs guided over planar, web-like and / or roller-like guide elements and / or is carried at least partially, characterized in that at least one of the guide elements as an ultrasonic bearing unit (28, 38) is formed. Machine according to Claim 1, in which at least one of the ultrasound bearing units (28) is formed by a deflecting element arranged substantially transversely to a conveying direction of the packaging web. Machine according to claim 2, wherein the deflecting element forms a largely contact-free, line-like deflection and / or guidance for the packaging web. Machine according to claim 2 or 3, wherein two or more mutually angularly arranged deflection elements form a spreader unit for the spaced guidance of two or more previously conveyed in parallel and / or as a single packaging web packaging webs. A machine according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the ultrasonic bearing units (38) is formed by a surface having a sheet-like guide for the packaging web. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one ultrasound bearing unit is formed by an ultrasonic air bearing (28, 38), the activation of which triggers a compression of the air between the packaging web and the surface of the ultrasound bearing unit. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the packaging web is formed by a packaging film (14). Method for packaging goods and / or packaging units with a sheet-like packaging web such as a disposable film (14) o. The like., In which the packaging webs of a Einschlageinheit (22) for at least partially wrapping the goods or packaging units are supplied to the packaging web, wherein the out packaging webs via flat, web-like and / or roll-like guide elements and / or are supported on these at least in sections, characterized in that the guide elements as an ultrasonic bearing units in the form of ultrasonic air bearings (28, 38) are formed, the activation of a compression of the air between the packaging web and the surface of the ultrasonic bearing unit triggers.

Images